Your PUD PUD News Line
2/23/2005
Ooo la la…
Chelan County PUD welcomes celebrity gardener, Ciscoe Morris, host of KING5's “Gardening with Ciscoe” back to the KPQ Home and Garden Show. Ciscoe will talk about gardening and Xeriscape - low-water use - landscaping.
The seminar will take place at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center on March 13, from noon to 1 p.m. Afterward, Ciscoe will be available to answer individual questions and sign his new book.
We hope to see you there.
Commissioners OK monthly meter reading
On Feb. 14, PUD commissioners approved a plan to move forward with monthly meter reading.
Members of the Customer Service Department related customer frustration with the existing system of reading customers’ meters every other month and estimating consumption in the off month. Many found the bills and the estimates confusing. The PUD hoped it could avoid the cost of monthly meter-reading by using estimates.
The change, which is expected to impact the PUD’s budget by $195,000, will add one new seasonal, and four new full-time meter readers, and could be in place by midyear. The PUD currently employs one seasonal and six full-time meter readers.
Click here to listen to the audio recording of the board meeting.
PUD developing method to focus on issues that matter most
A new method for identifying, measuring and tracking progress on goals to make sure that Chelan County PUD is working on the things that matter most to its customer-owners and employees was discussed with PUD commissioners this week.
General Manager Charlie Hosken said the “balanced scorecard” was the best method for tracking results he’s seen in 30 years in business.
Hosken and senior managers will use the “balanced scorecard” to make sure the District is focused on all areas, beyond just finances, that a balanced organization needs to watch. Those include the needs of employees, the concerns of customer-owners, and the ways they work together.
Measurements will be taken monthly to show how well the PUD is staying on course and signal if it needs to steer in a different direction. Employees and customer-owners will have frequent opportunities to make suggestions.
Managers will follow results monthly and report to commissioners and the public quarterly.
Click here to learn more.
New water reservoir planned
The PUD is planning to build a 1-million gallon water reservoir to improve supply, reliability, fire protection and meet future growth in west Wenatchee. The new reservoir will replace two old, smaller reservoirs. The project is part of an effort since 2002 to update and improve the water systems operated by the PUD that serve neighborhoods on the outskirts of Wenatchee. Construction of the new reservoir, estimated at $2.4 million, is scheduled for summer.
Because the construction site, west of the Broadview neighborhood, is in an area popular with hikers and mountain bikers, extra efforts are being made to make sure the community is aware of the work and that people are careful in the area.
Click here to learn more.
New Loop Trail map
Click here for new information and a detailed map of the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Use it to plan your next park outing. Click here to visit the PUD Parks Department.